By: Alex J. Nagem © April 12, 2025
I received a special gift from Deacon Doug Brieding: a prayer rope, known as a chotki in Russian. Deacon Doug and I had a conversation on prayer during a function we were attending. Surprisingly, we would talk about prayer, right? What else would he and I discuss? He mentioned the Jesus Prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,” as a prayer he says each day. I told him I say the same prayer. I searched for a prayer to Jesus that would be easy to say and remember, and I came across this prayer while reading “The Way of a Pilgrim.” I mentioned that I use my rosary to keep track of the prayers I recite. He offered to provide me with a handmade prayer rope to give my aging rosary some needed rest. The black is fading from the beads on my rosary, and the crucifix has been repaired several times. The features of the Christ on the crucifix have become smooth with age, a reminder of my constant handling of the rosary. The gift of the prayer rope would be appreciated. Ok, let’s go back to the story. This chotki is more than a rope or string tied with thirty-three knots with a tied cross at the end, it is a gift of prayer. The Greeks call the prayer rope a Komboskini, which means “string of knots”. It originated when monks tied knots in a string to keep track of the number of prayers said in their prayer rule. The knots are tied in a way to prevent them from unraveling. The traditional color of the prayer rope is black, symbolizing mourning for one’s sins. My gift has thirty-three knots, representing the age of Jesus Christ at the time of his crucifixion. Chotki’s can have as many as five hundred knots in them.
Lent is upon us! In my humble opinion, this season prompts me to pray more. As I grow older, my spiritual life and well-being become increasingly important to me. This is a time for spiritual reflection, a time to examine my relationship with God and with others. I find that the time I dedicate to reflection also serves as moments of prayer. I view prayer as a precious gift that should never be taken for granted. It allows me to draw closer to Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Prayer is something I can engage in at any time, privately within my thoughts.
According to Christian Apologetics, prayer is the practice of being in the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is uplifted, and supplication is made. Prayer is the acknowledgment of my need and dependence on God through humility. It is a gift that enables me to reach the heart of God through Jesus Christ. I hold nothing back from God in prayer. I am thankful for my daily blessings in prayer. I also confess my shortcomings. Prayer diminishes my pride- though it is not the only means to do so. I prefer the path of prayer. There is a profound sense of peace and calm that washes over me, easing my mind and worries. Unfortunately, many distractions and influences challenge the serenity felt after prayer.
I have come to appreciate the words of St. Gregory Palamas, who said, “Let no one think that it is the duty only of priests and monks to pray without ceasing, and not laymen.” This raises some questions in my curious mind. Why must we be reminded to pray? Why are we so easily distracted from praying and honoring God? In our quest to understand our existence and the creation of the universe, has our technological advancement hindered our relationship with God? I realize that is a deep thought. While I was eating dinner, I was watching a program on the creation of the universe. I was swept away by the realization of an infinite universe and the limited time we have in our personal lives. This reflection inspired me to continue this writing. I have written and re-written the following lines several times, trying to capture my thoughts on paper. After I read each one, I decided what I wrote were not the thoughts I wanted to pass on to you. These are the final thoughts that made it to paper. “Don’t save treasures for yourselves here on earth. Moths and rust will destroy them. And thieves can break into your house and steal them. Instead, save your treasures in heaven, where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.” Matthew 6:19-20. We have permitted our pride to dominate our time and thoughts, leading us away from the true Christian purpose of our existence. When pride consumes our days, we risk losing sight of what truly matters. Does our existence boil down to the gold and silver we accumulate or the homes we inhabit? When these material possessions are taken from us or lost, does that mean our purpose in life comes to an end? The gift of prayer enables each of us, as sinners, to seek mercy and forgiveness. It provides a means to call upon God’s mercy and understanding during our challenging times while also expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received. With this in mind, wouldn’t you want to pray without ceasing? We shouldn’t wait for designated moments to pray. Our Christian faith encourages us to give praise and honor to God continuously. Shouldn’t this be a constant practice? And what better way to offer that praise and honor than through prayer?
I am thankful and appreciative of my handmade chotki. I see Deacon Doug’s gift is a reminder that I need to dedicate more time to prayer. Since receiving this Chotki, I have noticed an increase in my prayers. The sight of the prayer rope alone sitting on my desk invokes the Jesus Prayer to mind. I realize that for a beginner, maintaining unceasing prayer is not an easy task. In a quest to become closer to God, frequent prayer is the first step to unceasing prayer.
“10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. 11 He is ‘the stone rejected by you,[a] the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 [b]There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” 13 Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. 14 Then, when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply.” Acts 4:10-14
During the days of Lent, I will continue to pray for you with a frequent, if not ceaseless, proclamation of the Lord’s name as I hope you pray for me.
“Vocatus Atque non Vocatus, Deus Aderit”
Alex J. Nagem
© March 2, 2014 Rev.